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I remember the Armenian genocide

I am a 100-year-old survivor of the Armenian genocide who lost 35 members of his family during the years 1915 to 1921.

In 1914-15, the Turkish government conscripted all Armenian men of military age and sent them to the front, not to fight, but to be slaughtered and buried in mass graves. The remnants of the Armenian people which consisted of the elderly, women and children, without arms or ammunition, could not possibly have slaughtered the armed Turkish population.

These innocent Armenians were preyed upon by both Turks and Kurds and subjected unspeakable atrocities. During this period, my family fled our homeland to the safety of Russian Armenia on two occasions and eventually had to make our way to the safety of Mesopotamia under the protection of the British in 1918.

The claim that the Turks were victims is not only false, but it is ludicrous. Almost three million Armenians lived in historic Armenia, now eastern Turkey, in 1915. That land is now devoid of Armenians.

The properties and holdings were confiscated by the Turkish government. The Armenian population was decimated and driven out of what was their homeland for over 3,000 years.

The letter written by Haydar Erik is insulting to all Armenians. Turkish denials of the genocide are futile because the 1.5 million Armenian victims of the genocide will never be forgotten add they still cry out for justice.

SOUREN APRAHAMIAN

Southfield, Mich.

Rosenblum right about bridge name

I agree with Jerold H. Rosenblum of Hilton Head Island, S.C. ("Talmadge shouldn't have his name on the bridge," Oct. 18) I am in favor of calling it the "Savannah River Bridge." I also would very much like to see the sign reattached to the end of the bridge which is approached from the South Carolina side with the words: "Welcome to Savannah, the hostess city of the South." It's fine to keep the signs that say "Welcome to Georgia" as well. I sincerely hope that the Chamber of Commerce and the Savannah Convention and Visitors Bureau will get behind this project and "make it happen."

SHIRLEY J. MARKS Savannah

County improves recycling center

The news media frequently comments about the ineptitude of government officials. There is an exception I wish to bring to public attention.

The Chatham County dump located on Concord Avenue permits the public to bring trash for disposal. There are containers for glass, newspapers and magazines which are recycled.

This provides income to offset costs to the county. All other items are placed in containers to be disposed of at another site.

This week I went to the dump and had a pleasant surprise. The county has permitted the dump to purchase equipment to process cardboard and plastic containers. This will help improve our environment; it will also reduce costs for the county and its taxpayers.

EDGAR W. SWANSON JR.

Savannah

Thanks for the mobility

I would like to thank the city of Savannah for installing handicap ramps on the corner of the blocks downtown.

I am currently wheelchair-bound due to illness and these new ramps are a real godsend. Independence of movement is very important to a person's sense of wellbeing and these ramps are very important to those who need them.

Thank you again, city of Savannah

ARCHIE DAVIS

Savannah

Jury service your American duty

Recently, I received my summons for jury duty beginning the week of Sept. 17. I have served before and remembered that it was rather time-consuming, but nevertheless a duty that everyone does at some point in their lives.

The efficiency that I witnessed was very professional from viewing of the juror film to being divided into separate groups with a judge assigned to each group. My group was excused from service by Judge James F. Bass Jr. as we were not needed that day.

The same week, after being excused, I received a thank you letter for my service from Judge Bass, as I am sure everyone else did, personally thanking me for doing my civic duty.

I was so impressed with his letter that I wanted to tell him how much his letter made me feel that my time and service as a prospective juror were appreciated. In closing, next time you receive your summons, go serve. It is your duty as an American.

BETTY H. GERINER

Savannah

Longtime residents fear losing homes

It is a shame that my native Savannahians are being pushed out of the outer fringes of downtown.

I took a ride several weeks ago and could not believe all the restoration to the grand old homes that are being turned into condos. The smaller houses in the Beach Institute area are just sitting there (like sitting ducks) with all the construction going on around them.

It will only be a matter of time until their owners won't be able to pay their "new property taxes."

Does "Daufuskie Island" ring a bell?

JENI ELLIS-RIGGS

Savannah

We should work with Ahmadinejad

The Morning News recently ran a story about the president giving a speech at a university. There were protesters outside the gate shouting insults at the president while anti-riot police stood by for protection.

Inside were students in favor of the president. After the speech was over the president, the protesters, the police and other students all left in peace. It seemed like just a normal day in the USA.

Except, this all happened in Iran and the person speaking was not President Bush, but was President Ahmadinejad, and to my surprise --- but not really --- no one was arrested, shot, no arms and legs were cut off, and no one left or was run out of the country.

Those student protesters even shouted "death to the dictator."

If our government wanted to, we could reason with this man, but instead we keep beating a path toward war. Condolezza Rice said the other day, "Iran is the most dangerous nation on earth."